Signaller69's projects

[Signaller69]

On 21/09/2022 at 10:55, sulzer71 said:

@Signaller69 , Martyn , did those Van 'B' s make it to Kyle?

 

Cheers

 

Dave

 

I see that has been answered, yes I was certain I had seen photos of these vans at Kyle in the 60s/70s.

On 21/09/2022 at 18:51, ISW said:

Martyn,

 

Actually, I think you've captured the 'look' of a dirty SR van very well. Here's one of my photos for comparison:

 

And they were not always a brown shade of blue. Here's one that was much cleaner:

 

Ian

Thanks Ian, nice to see an ex-works NRV (those I'd noted previously had been marked as SPV's, wonder why this one is an NRV?).

 

Martyn.

[ISW]

1 hour ago, Signaller69 said:

Thanks Ian, nice to see an ex-works NRV (those I'd noted previously had been marked as SPV's, wonder why this one is an NRV?).

 

Martyn.

Martyn,

 

Presumably (?) because, by then, the 2-letter hauled stock code for an SPV was 'NR'. By 1981 there was only 25 Special Parcels Vans (ex-fish) left.

 

Ian

[Signaller69]

16 hours ago, ISW said:

Martyn,

 

Presumably (?) because, by then, the 2-letter hauled stock code for an SPV was 'NR'. By 1981 there was only 25 Special Parcels Vans (ex-fish) left.

 

Ian

 Ian, 

 

Ah yes, that would explain it, amazing those vans lasted as late as they did in parcels use really.

 

Martyn.

[sulzer71]

On 23/09/2022 at 12:25, Signaller69 said:

I see that has been answered, yes I was certain I had seen photos of these vans at Kyle in the 60s/70s.

Martyn , the one I have looks like the one you have modelled but is marked NFV , don't know if that makes a difference? Hornby R4585 is the one I've got

[Signaller69]

11 hours ago, sulzer71 said:

Martyn , the one I have looks like the one you have modelled but is marked NFV , don't know if that makes a difference? Hornby R4585 is the one I've got

Yes the R4585 is the same type of van, a much easier proposition than trying to rescue a secondhand kit purchase too! The NFV TOPS code seems to have been applied in the early to mid 70s (presumably the same period SPV vans became TOPS code NRV as mentioned by Ian above); I tend to follow c.1970-72 photos for my period where possible which predates the application of the TOPS code. (There were still a few green ones around at that point too, a possibility, should I acquire another one!)

The position of the data lettering tended to vary on these vans too, I notice the Hornby model has it in the top right corner whereas the photo I used for reference has it lower right, but both versions seemed common enough in the 70s.

 

Martyn.

[ISW]

On 26/09/2022 at 13:44, sulzer71 said:

but is marked NFV

NF is the 2-letter rolling stock code for non-gangwayed brake. The V suffix is for vacuum braking.

 

Ian

[ISW]

Martyn,

 

Well, this one's thrown me a bit.

 

According to my 'Content You Follow' I made a posting in your Topic today (10/10/22, 5-hours ago), which is news to me!:

 

But when I click on your Topic and go to the last Posting it says I did a Posting on 27/09/22:

 

I'm aware that time-travel isn't possible, so I'm guessing it's just a 'glitch' in the system. Maybe @AY Mod knows something about it?

 

Ian

[Signaller69]

1 hour ago, ISW said:

Martyn,

 

Well, this one's thrown me a bit.

 

According to my 'Content You Follow' I made a posting in your Topic today (10/10/22, 5-hours ago), which is news to me!:

 

But when I click on your Topic and go to the last Posting it says I did a Posting on 27/09/22:

 

I'm aware that time-travel isn't possible, so I'm guessing it's just a 'glitch' in the system. Maybe @AY Mod knows something about it?

 

Ian

Hi Ian,

 

Strange! I reacted to your post around that time (lunchtime-ish), having not been on here for a couple of weeks (where does time go?). But I'm not aware of any other new comments.

 

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

In between layout modelling, I have started chopping up a couple of old Bachmann Thompson coach bodies, to produce one of the Buffet cars used on ScR until around 1978:

 

http://www.eastbank.org.uk/images/Coaches/CS0225.jpg

 

So far the coach sides have been cut away, sawn into pieces and stitched back together, one window bay at a time due to the reduced spacing compared to the Bachmann versions. The roof has also had all the vents cut away.

 

 

As can be seen, some windows need blanking to produce plain side panels. Filler is now setting prior to sanding both sides down.

 

As I don't have a Bachmann chassis (or bogies) I am now thinking how this will proceed; I do have a couple of ideas to play with though!

 

[griffgriff]

Don’t do what Hornby did and stick it on a mk1 chassis …… out of interest, what kind of trussing did they have? 
 

Whatever the solution it’s an impressive cut’n’shut and will make for a handsome coach.

 

Griff

[BernardTPM]

Replacing the roof with a Triang/Hornby Mk.1 version would probably give you a better overall roof profile than the older Bachmann Thompsons which are rather too square at the shoulders. The Bachmann sides are superior to the Triang Hornby ones though with more correctly sized doors, windows and vents.

I remember seeing these on Cambridge trains in the late' 70s.

[Signaller69]

4 hours ago, griffgriff said:

Don’t do what Hornby did and stick it on a mk1 chassis …… out of interest, what kind of trussing did they have? 
 

Whatever the solution it’s an impressive cut’n’shut and will make for a handsome coach.

 

Griff

 

Thanks Griff,

Funnily enough one of the options is to use a Mk.1 chassis, but only as a platform and rather heavily rebuilt with channel solebars - I have a few old Trix ones lying around from the 126 DMU project and I'm told they are the correct bogie centres; I'll need to buy some Gresley Heavyweight bogies along with a few other bits. I think the trusses are the angle-iron type, but as long as they can pass muster from normal viewing distance I'm not too worried.

 

18 minutes ago, BernardTPM said:

Replacing the roof with a Triang/Hornby Mk.1 version would probably give you a better overall roof profile than the older Bachmann Thompsons which are rather too square at the shoulders. The Bachmann sides are superior to the Triang Hornby ones though with more correctly sized doors, windows and vents.

I remember seeing these on Cambridge trains in the late' 70s.

 

Hi Bernard,

Thanks for the info and suggestion, istr reading some time ago that the roof wasn't quite right on these - I do have a couple of Triang spares so will investigate.

 

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

Now at the painting stage. I stuck with the Bachmann roof, mainly as the sides were cut to fit the original space they were cut from, despite it not being totally accurate as Bernard pointed out above. I picked up a secondhand Bachmann coach to pinch the chassis from today, which will suffice until such time as I acquire some heavyweight bogies to replace the standard ones.

 

 

Due to the differences from the LNER "as built" spec plans I had to guesstimate the 1970s kitchen vent positions on the centreline from photos. Probably not totally accurate but they can be replaced easily enough if better images or plans come to light.

 

 

I also picked up a very cheap Bachmann 57' Mk.1 Suburban Brake which will hopefully form the basis of a Mk.1 Inspection Saloon (with Triang bodyside bits replacing the sides) in the near future.

 

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

Painting, lining, transfers and varnish all done, need to get hold of some SEF flushglaze next; I need 12 vented windows for this coach, Bachmann standard models have 10 at most so I'm hoping the pack includes a couple of spares as most of them do.

It's not sitting quite right on the chassis yet due to a couple of tight spots inside the body, as can be seen and the rubber corridor connections need refitting. The chassis itself needs extra bits adding for the additional catering gas bottle storage etc.

I have half a Replica open interior for the seating area, which will need some adjustments to fit correctly.

 

Quite pleased with how this one is coming together.

 

As an aside, according to the RCTS, 1705 was the only one of the ex-LNER buffets which were still in BR stock in 1972, to not survive into preservation, going into departmental stock in 1978/9 and being cut up as late as 1989.

 

Martyn.

[ColinK]

Looking really good, excellent modelling.

[jessy1692]

Super job Martyn, cracking model there, great addition to your fleet.

 

All the best 

James

[Signaller69]

Whilst the buffet is awaiting glazing, some of you may remember the Hornby Railroad class 121 to ScR 122 DMU conversion I did a while back, well, after finding it at the back of a drawer, it has finally gone the whole hog to become a class 131 Parcels car, a Scottish peculiarity of 3 redundant single units fitted with extra double doors around 1968ish for parcels traffic, often attached to service trains along with a van or two; into 1970 and beyond, one ran in green with small yellow panel (SC55013) as here: https://www.railcar.co.uk/images/9894, another in blue small yellow panel with white cab roof (SC55015) https://www.railcar.co.uk/images/181 , and the third (55014) https://www.railcar.co.uk/images/21839 in bog standard blue with full yellow end, which is the one I have gone with. The extra doors were grafted in from spare side panels, white windows painted and end details, bogie steps etc added as appropriate. A nice quickie project.

 

 

just needs to join the queue for some weathering now!

[Signaller69]

The Thompson Buffet has now had the SE Flushglaze fitted, it went in like a dream on this coach with no filing of window frames required. The small Kitchen window had a simple rectangle of clear plastic fitted. Tissue paper fixed with Matt varnish provides the opaque window areas (my preferred method). The Kitchen side:

 

And the other side:

 

 

As may be noted, I rebuilt the Bachmann chassis after cutting away everything other than the trussing. New boxes, vac cylinders etc were added going off the Eastbank photos so it probably isn't exactly correct, but looks fine from normal distances.

 

New metal Hornby coach wheels, plasticard footsteps and NEM coupling boxes were added to the bogies after sawing off the tension locks, and a coat of grime added to the chassis area.

 

Looking again at the prototype photos I realise I have missed what appears to be another square roof vent, at the dining end, which will be added in due course, along with colour variations on the roof where sections appear to have been repaired. But otherwise it is ready to join the fleet.

[AlfaZagato]

Looks very nice.  I'm surprised at how square the windows are.  Is that prototypical for Thompson stock?  I'm not well versed on LNER designs.

[Signaller69]

7 hours ago, AlfaZagato said:

Looks very nice.  I'm surprised at how square the windows are.  Is that prototypical for Thompson stock?  I'm not well versed on LNER designs.

Yes it is correct for this vehicle which did have square cornered windows, as did many (if not most?) of the other Thompson designs. Some apparently did have radiused corners, but as to which types, I'm no expert in LNER coaches either I'm afraid.

[russ p]

10 hours ago, Signaller69 said:

Yes it is correct for this vehicle which did have square cornered windows, as did many (if not most?) of the other Thompson designs. Some apparently did have radiused corners, but as to which types, I'm no expert in LNER coaches either I'm afraid.

 

I think Peppercorn introduced radiused corners to windows to try and reduce corrosion 

[davidw]

That Thompson buffet is extraordinary good.

[keefer]

Excellent work Martyn, I'm a sucker for blue/grey-era oddities like the Thomsons - the fact that they were still running and used equivalent to Mk1 stock in the '70s, so much more interesting!

BTW there were two surviving Thomson RB - 1705 and 1706. Upon withdrawal in 1979, they went to Penmanshiel as workers' accomodation after the tunnel collapse.

Regarding the underframes, there are new Flickr links in this old thread recently (apologies if you've already seen them): Thomson Buffet Cars 1705/6

 

Also love the 131 - such a handy ScR unit to have, as you say often added to a 3-car for extra power/parcels capacity but sometimes as a replacement power car. Can also be out on its own though!

 

EDIT: you might need an 'E' suffix for the number - E1705E

 

Edited November 27, 2022 by keefer

[davidw]

On 10/11/2022 at 12:02, Signaller69 said:

The Thompson Buffet has now had the SE Flushglaze fitted, it went in like a dream on this coach with no filing of window frames required. The small Kitchen window had a simple rectangle of clear plastic fitted. Tissue paper fixed with Matt varnish provides the opaque window areas (my preferred method). The Kitchen side:

 

And the other side:

 

 

As may be noted, I rebuilt the Bachmann chassis after cutting away everything other than the trussing. New boxes, vac cylinders etc were added going off the Eastbank photos so it probably isn't exactly correct, but looks fine from normal distances.

 

New metal Hornby coach wheels, plasticard footsteps and NEM coupling boxes were added to the bogies after sawing off the tension locks, and a coat of grime added to the chassis area.

 

Looking again at the prototype photos I realise I have missed what appears to be another square roof vent, at the dining end, which will be added in due course, along with colour variations on the roof where sections appear to have been repaired. But otherwise it is ready to join the fleet.

 

I built a version of these many years ago I got rid of the original side and put Southern pride sides in its place - yous is very much better, and neater

 

Edited November 28, 2022 by davidw

[Signaller69]

On 27/11/2022 at 16:45, davidw said:

That Thompson buffet is extraordinary good.

 

On 27/11/2022 at 21:35, keefer said:

Excellent work Martyn, I'm a sucker for blue/grey-era oddities like the Thomsons - the fact that they were still running and used equivalent to Mk1 stock in the '70s, so much more interesting!

BTW there were two surviving Thomson RB - 1705 and 1706. Upon withdrawal in 1979, they went to Penmanshiel as workers' accomodation after the tunnel collapse.

Regarding the underframes, there are new Flickr links in this old thread recently (apologies if you've already seen them): Thomson Buffet Cars 1705/6

 

Also love the 131 - such a handy ScR unit to have, as you say often added to a 3-car for extra power/parcels capacity but sometimes as a replacement power car. Can also be out on its own though!

 

EDIT: you might need an 'E' suffix for the number - E1705E

 

Thanks for your kind words gents, I must admit that given the amount of cutting, filling and shutting involved,  I am rather pleased with how it turned out.

 

Keefer, thanks for the links, funnily enough someone elsewhere sent me the same photo link. 1706 of course survives to this day, sadly 1705 didn't quite make it to preservation, being cut up in the late 80s iirc. It seems to have ended its revenue days on ScR, during which time it was simply numbered "SC1705" (no suffix), as per this link:

 

http://www.eastbank.org.uk/images/Coaches/CS0227.jpg

 

Martyn.